title: In vitro dedifferentiation of melanocytes from adult epidermis.
abstract: In previous work we described a novel culture technique using a cholera toxin and PMA-free medium (Mel-mix) for obtaining pure melanocyte cultures from human adult epidermis. In Mel-mix medium the cultured melanocytes are bipolar, unpigmented and highly proliferative. Further characterization of the cultured melanocytes revealed the disappearance of c-Kit and TRP-1 and induction of nestin expression, indicating that melanocytes dedifferentiated in this in vitro culture. Cholera toxin and PMA were able to induce c-Kit and TRP-1 protein expressions in the cells, reversing dedifferentiation. TRP-1 mRNA expression was induced in dedifferentiated melanocytes by UV-B irradiated keratinocyte supernatants, however direct UV-B irradiation of the cells resulted in further decrease of TRP-1 mRNA expression. These dedifferentiated, easily accessible cultured melanocytes provide a good model for studying melanocyte differentiation and possibly transdifferentiation. Because melanocytes in Mel-mix medium can be cultured with human serum as the only supplement, this culture system is also suitable for autologous cell transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Dermatological Research Group of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary. kormosbetti@mail.derma.szote.u-szeged.hu
authors.forename: Bernadett
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kormos
authors.forename: Nóra
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Belso
authors.forename: Attila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bebes
authors.forename: Gábor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Szabad
authors.forename: Sarolta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bacsa
authors.forename: Márta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Széll
authors.forename: Lajos
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kemény
authors.forename: Zsuzsanna
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bata-Csörgo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054337:Cell Dedifferentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002772:Cholera Toxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned / Q000494:pharmacology; D003712:Dendrites / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D004817:Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012880:Skin Pigmentation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D007370:Interferon Type I; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; C020947:interferon tau; D002772:Cholera Toxin; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate